St James Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 March 2022

Pupils are happy and safe at the school. They typically behave well in their classrooms, when moving around the school and outside in the playground. Pupils know that bullying occasionally happens and are confident that adults are around to listen and help them. Staff deal with any concerns swiftly. The school's new leaders are approachable and visible throughout the school day. Leaders and staff get to know every child. They expect and encourage pupils to work hard. They have designed an ambitious curriculum that helps pupils develop their understanding across and within the subjects taught. This is a school where pupils routinely achieve well. Pupils enjoy learning, including visits and workshops that take place inside the school and in the local area. They support the local food bank and raise money for local charities. They are proud to take on roles representing their class or school, as house captains, science technicians, rights-respecting leaders or school councillors and in extra-curricular clubs.

What the school should improve

• In the early years, in some areas, the focus on what children need to know and remember over time is not identified as sharply as in the rest of the school. This means that planning is not routinely as helpful as it could be to support all staff in the early years. Leaders should ensure that what children need to know and remember to be ready for the start of Year 1 is clearly identified in all subjects. This will help adults supporting across the early years to ensure indoor and outdoor learning opportunities deepen children's knowledge and understanding further.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)